Freezing Corn

For all of the things that I do in the summer, freezing corn is the biggest bang for the buck. It doesn’t take very long, it is reasonably priced and I get to enjoy beautiful sweet corn all year long.

I don’t grow corn myself as it is important to have a big “stand” to get good germination. Unlike other garden items, corn isn’t pollinated by the bees, but, rather, by the wind. Each silk goes to a specific kernel and needs to be pollinated individually. Corn also only takes six hours from when it is picked to turn from a sugar into a starch. So it’s important to process it early in the day.

I head down to my local organic farm after it opens. It’s about a twenty minute ride. I pick out about three dozen ears making sure that they were just picked. Once back home, I put some water on to boil and shuck the corn.

Placing six ears at a time in the water (you can also steam them if you prefer), I leave them in for three minutes.

When they come out, they go into ice water to cool them down.

Cutting the corn off of the cobs, I put it into a bowl, then into freezer bags. I usually get about eight quarts from 2 ½ dozen ears (we eat the rest).

Labeling it with the year, into the freezer it goes.

This whole process takes me about two hours. So for very little time and money, I get to add sweet corn to soups and stews all winter long. I often use only a quarter or third of a bag at a time. It is well worth it.

Sign up to receive notice of new Garden Delights posts from our website.

Testimonial

I cannot remember when I have been so excited about a book. Celeste’s Garden Delights is absolutely brilliant! More importantly, it is essential. This book will make you want to become a gardener, no matter where you live. It is pure inspiration. You have to read this book.

Celeste’s book is just so inspiring. We are what we eat and I have learned so many simple steps I can take to eat healthier and surely prevent medical issues in the future. Even with a small city balcony I look forward to planting this spring to grow my own tomatoes and basil. And I’ll be hitting the local farmer’s markets for fresh organic produce. My body will thank me. And I thank Celeste!

It is truly inspiring to read how Celeste and Bob have lived sustainably for 40 years. I appreciate the attention to minerals because they are absolutely necessary to grow healthy plants that will sustain healthy bodies. The book is sustainable in itself! It is densely packed with hundreds of action steps as well as being a very enjoyable read.

Looking for a book to get you started gardening and preserving your own food? You can’t do any better than Celeste’s Garden Delights. From concise, easy-to-understand instructions on how to grow a wide variety of vegetables to the how-to’s of canning, freezing and lacto-fermentation, you will be educated and inspired to plunge into a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

Celeste’s Garden Delights will have you looking at food in a whole different perspective. Jam packed with step-by-step tips on sustainability, including growing, preserving, and cooking food that will nurture you, along with some yummy recipes, Celeste Longacre takes you on an agricultural journey that makes eating fun and healthy. Perfect for both neophytes just getting started in a healthier lifestyle and long-time participants in a sustainable existence, Celeste’s Garden Delights is the…